Henry Bedinger III
The Eagle from Harper's Ferry
[The account on this page of Henry Bedinger III pertaining to his experiences and accomplishments during his tenure in the U. S. House of Representatives and the account on the following page of his service as U. S. Minister to Denmark are taken largely from the article written by Alexandra Lee Levin entitled (Henry Bedinger of Virginia, First United States Minister to Denmark, in Virginia Cavalcade, 1980, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 184-190.) Alexandra Lee Levin is the great-grandniece of Henry Bedinger III and an accomplished and beloved writer of two books and many articles about her relatives of the Lee and Bedinger families. The article quoted here has been modified, but hopefully imparts the warmth, charm, and perspicacity of Henry Bedinger's character which Mrs. Levin so aptly portrayed in her presentation.]
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"Much has been spoken here in praise of the American eagle;...Those who like myself, have stood amid the sublime scenery at Harper's Ferry and watched him there in his favorite haunts...know something of his habits.”
Henry Bedinger III |
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Henry Bedinger was admitted to the bar in 1832. He commenced the practice of law in Shepherdstown, Virginia; moved to Charlestown, Virginia and continued the practice of law. In 1839 Bedinger married Margaret Rust, the daughter of General George Rust, of Leesburg, Virginia, who had been superintendent of the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry during Andrew Jackson's administration. Less than four years later Margaret Bedinger died, leaving two young children, George and Virginia, in their father's care. After accepting the offer of General and Mrs. Rust to raise and educate their grandchildren, Henry Bedinger decided to enter "ole Jade Politics”, hoping that a political career would prove more lucrative than his law practice. In 1844 he was nominated by friends in the Democratic party in Charles Town for a seat in the United States House of Representatives of the 10th district, which encompassed Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry.
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Henry Bedinger was a popular candidate, noted for his whimsical humor and his hearty laugh. The Spirit of Jefferson carried the report of a speech Mr. Henry Bedinger, Esq. , this "fearless and eloquent champion of Democracy," addressed the citizens of Shepherdstown. The article concluded Mr. Bedinger’s fame as an able and eloquent debater had preceded him; and, his speech … fully sustained his reputation.” [i]. He won election to the Twenty-Ninth Congress succeeding his law partner William Lucas. [ii]
On the campaign trail, he entranced listeners with a clear, deep, and musical voice. Soon he was referred to as "the silver-tongued orator of Virginia.” Bedinger won the election and succeeded William Lucas, his law partner, in the Twenty-ninth Congress in March 1845. He was placed on the Committee on Military Affairs, and within a month of the opening of Congress in December he had delivered his maiden speech, a spirited attack against the swelling current of nativism.
On the campaign trail, he entranced listeners with a clear, deep, and musical voice. Soon he was referred to as "the silver-tongued orator of Virginia.” Bedinger won the election and succeeded William Lucas, his law partner, in the Twenty-ninth Congress in March 1845. He was placed on the Committee on Military Affairs, and within a month of the opening of Congress in December he had delivered his maiden speech, a spirited attack against the swelling current of nativism.
Henry Bedinger in the first session of the Twenty-ninth Congress, delivered his first major speech, a spirited attack against the welling current of nativism. An issue which may reminds us today that resistance to immigration and disenfranchisement of immigrants is not a new political issue. Representative Lewis Charles Levin of Pennsylvania pleaded in an impassioned harangue for the strict exclusion of immigrants from the franchise. A strong feeling against foreigners had arisen in the United States in the 1840s, when large numbers of Irish and German immigrants poured into this country. Much of the opposition stemmed from religious prejudice since many of the newcomers were Roman Catholics. Also the American workers did not want the impoverished newcomers to compete with them in the labor market. In Congress the question was pending on Representative Levin's motion when the Hon. Henry Bedinger rose in his seat on December 30, 1845. [iii]
Bedinger, whose grandfather Henricus Büdinger had immigrated to the United States as a young child from the Rhenish Palatinate recalled his heritage in a speech in Congress on December 30, 1845. "Who were they who had ever proved themselves the most ready to resist foreign invasion and to stand to their arms in defence of the country and its government?''' he asked his colleagues. Bedinger's father had run away from his Virginia home as a boy of fifteen to fight with Washington's army and two of his uncles had marched in "a beeline to Boston" in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress called upon Virginia for two volunteer rifle companies. Yet, Bedinger emphasized, German was the tongue of the Bedinger family when these young men left everything to fight for their country's freedom. He reminded his colleagues that "'We had all been foreigners once, unless, like Randolph of Roanoke, we derived our descent from the aborigines.” Francis Lieber, the well-known immigrant and professor of history and political economy at South Carolina College, wrote Bedinger following the speech expressing his "warmest gratitude for your generous eloquence.” Bedinger was pleased when the House Judiciary Committee reported, in February 1846, its decision not to alter the naturalization laws of the United States.
Bedinger, whose grandfather Henricus Büdinger had immigrated to the United States as a young child from the Rhenish Palatinate recalled his heritage in a speech in Congress on December 30, 1845. "Who were they who had ever proved themselves the most ready to resist foreign invasion and to stand to their arms in defence of the country and its government?''' he asked his colleagues. Bedinger's father had run away from his Virginia home as a boy of fifteen to fight with Washington's army and two of his uncles had marched in "a beeline to Boston" in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress called upon Virginia for two volunteer rifle companies. Yet, Bedinger emphasized, German was the tongue of the Bedinger family when these young men left everything to fight for their country's freedom. He reminded his colleagues that "'We had all been foreigners once, unless, like Randolph of Roanoke, we derived our descent from the aborigines.” Francis Lieber, the well-known immigrant and professor of history and political economy at South Carolina College, wrote Bedinger following the speech expressing his "warmest gratitude for your generous eloquence.” Bedinger was pleased when the House Judiciary Committee reported, in February 1846, its decision not to alter the naturalization laws of the United States.
As a freshman Representative of the Democratic Party, Mr. Bedinger was not reticent about challenging Representatives of the Whig Party who held opposing views on the issue of slavery. Mr. Bedinger did not fully endorse slavery and was especially incensed by disparaging words on his native state of Virginia. Following a speech by Mr. Wilson of New Hampshire on February 16, 1849, the spectacled Henry Bedinger rose from his seat saying that he had been edified by the speech which Mr. Wilson had just delivered, denouncing Virginia and its slavery as a curse. "I would gladly see this exciting subject put to rest forever," declared Mr. Bedinger. The gentleman from Virginia then tried to vindicate the name of his state which had come in for verbal abuse from some northern members. Bedinger admitted that Massachusetts was a very great state that could boast of Plymouth Rock and Concord. On the other hand, Virginia did not burn witches nor hold conventions of atheists. [ii]
As a young congressman, Henry Bedinger also had to face the difficult problems posed by his country’s rapid expansion westward into Oregon, Texas, and California. Most Americans clamored to add these territories to the United States, despite potentially serious diplomatic repercussions. Bedinger, like most southerners, supported the admission of Texas into the Union as a slave state in 1845, although this action ultimately precipitated a war with Mexico. He was less enthusiastic about the destiny of Oregon, fearing that America's land hunger might start a war with Great Britain, whose citizens occupied the Oregon territory jointly with Americans under a long- standing treaty. Although he opposed a war with Great Britain, Bedinger supported the war with Mexico that broke out in the spring of 1846 and culminated in the expansion of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
Early in 1846 Washington buzzed with excitement. The country's rapid expansion westward was causing problems. Bedinger feared that America's land hunger might start a war with Great Britain, whose citizens occupied the Oregon territory jointly with our country under a long-standing treaty. Would Congress vote to give the required year's notice to Great Britain that the joint occupancy was at an end? 0n January 16, 1846, Bedinger urged his colleagues to avoid conflict with Britain. "Much has been spoken here in praise of the American eagle; and that bird has been compelled of late to take a vast deal of unnecessary exercise, 'pluming his wings and soaring aloft," he said. "Those who like myself, have stood amid the sublime scenery at Harper's Ferry and watched him there in his favorite haunts ... know something of his habits.” The eagle, he explained, is never rash, never strikes until ready, and when it does strike does it with the rapidity of lightening. So if the United States could curb its impetuosity, the dark cloud then lowering on its political horizon would pass away, and the American eagle would "take its onward flight, unresisted and unopposed to the rich regions of Oregon.” For this speech, Mr. Bedinger’s Whig opponents at first styled him, in jest, the “The Eagle from Harpers Ferry.” With time his opponents received their comeuppance when his reputation as a skillful debater became known. The designation they had unwittingly bestowed would become a badge of distinction. [iv]
Prior to the negotiations ending the hostilities with Mexico in 1848, the House passed a resolution requesting President Polk to communicate with the House the instructions given the Military and the U. S. diplomat who would carry out peace treaty negotiations. The Whigs harshly criticized the President’s Special Message in reply to the House. Mr. Bedinger in an hour-long speech deftly defended the President’s reply. Many Whigs were opposed to Polk’s policy of Manifest Destiny and acquisition of territory from Mexico. Mr. Bedinger at one point in this hour-long defense of the President asserted, “If the Whig Party persist in urging this backing-out policy, I shall advise them to abandon the “coon,” which they formerly adopted as the type of their party, and to adopt the crab or the crawfish. They are the only animals, I believe that constantly move backwards or sideways.” [v]
The sobriquet applied to Mr. Bedinger that was most apt and fitting was the “Eagle from Harper’s Ferry,” bestowed at first in jest by his Whig opponents, yet with time, applied as a fitting tribute to his oratorical eloquence. His most well-known speech extolling metaphorically the qualities of the eagle was given in the paragraph below.
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"Mr. Chairman, continued Mr. Bedinger, I have but a minute or two of my allotted time remaining. Will this committee allow me to say a word or two about myself? Some year or two ago, certain eloquent gentlemen took many liberties with the “American Eagle,” that the bird began to look marvelously like a buzzard, and I took it into my head to burnish up his plumes afresh, and send him off to Oregon. Since which time, sir divers gentlemen have made themselves merry at my expense—one in particular, with whom I had the honor of breaking a lance during the last session, and who has recently shown himself a true son of the South, by breaking asunder the shackles of party, as the strong man of old burst the new cords and green withes with which treachery would have tied him: I mean the gentleman from Mississippi, [Mr. Tompkins]. This gentleman, I say, thought proper, upon a certain occasion, to denominate me the “Eagle from Harper’s Ferry,” and the gentleman may congratulate himself upon the success of his sarcasm. I felt the full effect of his irony. I would gladly believe it was not meant as such, but I my modesty forbids it. I have often earnestly desired to possess some of the qualities of the bird to which the gentleman thought proper to liken me. I have often sighed for his tireless wing, to bear my spirit from this dull world to those higher and purer regions which, at least, seem nearer and purer regions which, at least seem nearer Heaven—for the power to pierce the mists of folly, of prejudice, of ignorance, and error, and look full upon the Sun of Truth with unblenching vision and undazzled gaze as the eye of that bold bird meets the blaze of the day-God—for his calm and unruffled spirit, calm and unruffled in the mightiest storm whose thunders shake the eternal hills, as in the gentlest breeze whose breath scarce stirs the blossoms of spring. Would such qualities were mine. But the want of them causes me to feel more palpably the gentleman’s irony, and prompts me to retaliate by a comparison much more appropriate, in my opinion, than the one which the gentleman chose to institute. I am prompted to tell the gentleman that here is another bird, whose habits, customs, and qualities render it a particularly appropriate emblem of that great party [the Whig Party] of which the gentleman is a conspicuous member. It is a bird, sir, somewhat renowned in classic lore, and remarkably well known in domestic life.
"The same bird, sir, whose vigilant and faithful calls, whose vigilant and faithful calls,saved Rome’s old Capitol from murderous Gauls." A bird, sir, marvelously addicted to ---" [a] BANG! Down fell the hammer of the presiding officer. Mr. Bedinger's time had expired; the session closed. Thus, the sonorous tones of “The Eagle from Harpers Ferry” soared aloft for the last time in the Congress. [vi], [ii] [a] [Mr. Bedinger's poem refers to an ancient story that tells of geese cackling, when the Gauls attacked Rome, thereby alerting the Romans and saving Rome.] |
In 1848, after serving in the House for two terms, Berryville lawyer Richard Parker received the nomination in Bedinger's stead, and in March Bedinger left Washington. A congressional associate, Lucien B. Chase, of Tennessee, whose term had ended at the same time, asked Bedinger to join him in his New York law practice. Bedinger tried it for a time, but he was uncomfortable with the hurried pace of the metropolis. Within a year, residents of Shepherdstown read in their local newspaper that Henry Bedinger "has returned to Virginia, and offers his Professional services to the citizens of Jefferson and the neighboring Counties”.
Sources:
[i] Spirit of Jefferson (Charlestown, West Virginia, Fri., Sept. 27, 1844.
[ii] Alexandra Lee Levin, "Henry Bedinger: The Eagle from Harpers Ferry", published in the GOOD SHEPHERD GOOD TOWN GOOD NEWS PAPER, "GNP", Shepherdstown, West Virginia, accessed in the Bedinger Family File of the Historical Shepherdstown Museum, Shepherdstown, West Virginia..
[iii] The Congressional Globe, Twenty-ninth Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives, December 30, 1845, pp. 114-115.
[iv] Appendix to the Congressional Globe, 29th Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives, January 15, 1846, pp. 117-120
[v] Appendix to The Congressional Globe, 30th Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives, January 25, pp.130-133.
[vi] Appendix to The Congressional Globe, Thirtieth Congress, 2nd session, House of Representatives,pp. 111-114.]
Continued: Journey to Canaan